Pakistan announces ban on crime re-enactment shows

Islamabad: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) announced a ban on shows dramatising crimes such as rape, murder, robberies and suicide.

Addressing a conference on Friday, Pemra chairman Absar Alam said the authority decided to ban such shows which re-enact crimes like murders and suicide, and those that raid places in the name of investigative journalism from the next month, Dawn online reported.

“None will be allowed to name rape or suicide victims, family members of rape victims will not be named nor a channel will be allowed to run their interviews,” the chairman said.

A notification issued by the authority stated that viewers have repeatedly complained about such shows while law enforcement agencies agree that airing them not only entices the youth towards crime but several criminals have confessed learning new crime tactics through these shows.

“Standing committees of Senate and have recommended the authority to ban crime re-enactment shows. Lahore High Court, during the hearing of a petition, ordered banning such programmes and Punjab Assembly passed a resolution calling for a complete ban on such shows,” it said.

About investigative journalism, the notification said the authority is forming a code of conduct and rules and regulations are being formed, which will soon be issued to the channels.